Monday, May 11, 2026 - Downtown Los Angeles woke up under a gray blanket of low clouds, a cool and slightly damp 57°F to start the workweek. By late morning, though, the clouds are expected to peel back for bright sunshine and a warm afternoon high near 81°F, with light southwest breezes keeping things comfortable.
Foggy Mornings, Sunny Afternoons
A shallow marine layer is clinging to the coast and much of the basin early today, loading the air with humidity and that classic May gloom vibe. Inland neighborhoods should shake off the clouds fairly quickly, while beaches stay slower to clear.
Temperatures will split along the usual coastal-inland lines. Beaches are likely to top out in the mid 60s to low 70s, while central Los Angeles heads for the upper 70s to low 80s. Away from the coast, many valleys should climb into the mid 80s to mid 90s, and some interior spots could flirt with 90 to 100°F, according to the National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard.
Afternoon Winds and Marine Outlook
Winds stay mostly tame today, generally around 0 to 10 mph with a south-southwest lean, then tick up to about 10 to 15 mph this afternoon in some inland areas.
By midweek, stronger onshore flow is expected to bring gustier southwest winds during the afternoon and evening, with some of the punchiest gusts near Antelope Valley foothills. Out on the water, winds and seas are projected to build from late Wednesday into the weekend, which increases the chance of Small Craft Advisories on the outer waters.
What This Means For Your Day
Plan for a cool, gray start, so a light jacket will not be overkill for the morning commute. By lunchtime, expect full sun and warm, almost summery conditions inland. Beach plans will feel cooler and a bit breezier, better for hoodies than heat waves.
If you are heading out on the water, keep an eye on updated marine forecasts before you launch, since conditions will trend rougher later in the week.
Looking Ahead
On Tuesday, a stronger onshore push should take the edge off the heat, with highs generally backing down into the low 70s across the basin and more frequent low-cloud intrusions overnight.
Later in the week, offshore flow is expected to return and help temperatures rebound Thursday and Friday, setting up a weekend pattern of 70s along the coast and 80s inland. For a deeper look at how this marine layer pattern set up in the first place, check out our earlier coverage of the cool start before the warm-up.
